Naiche/Natchez

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Years ago I made a table with Chiricahua chiefs (born/died and in which decade started their reign).
Maybe it helps. And feel free to correct me

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THE FIRST FIVE YEARS

1. Early life.

The young boy got his name Naiche which seems to mean “Mischievous boy” as I understand and certainly not “wood thing” like told in Elliot Arnold’s “Broken Arrow”. He had an early life most of time safe in the Chokonen country. His first year, Naiche was much of his time with his mother in the cradle.
During his first three years, he surely felt that his family was not on the apache standard. His models the men, seemed very different than the other warriors. His father was six feet tall and straight and his grandfather was, from a very little’s boy eyes, a giant with his six feet, five inches tall and a weight of two hundred pounds. This family’s men seemed to command the other which gave certainly some proud to the son and grandson he was. His beloved uncle Kin-o-tera, who Naiche called also “father”, had his own followers, like perhaps the husband of Goci’s sister. And is it not wonderful as example to follow his big brother Taza?

The women of his family were special too. His father’s sister was a tall and strong woman in who Goci had a lot of confidence. Dos-teh-seh, his mother, was regarded like all the children of Kan-da-zis-tlishishen as a princess. On their wickiup, Naiche saw that his mother was the principal spouse of Goci and one of his important counsellors.
Those years had their excitement moments for a young boy. The first plays with others boys of the gota, and some became close friends like Tah-ni-toe. The nomadic life of his family to gather mescal, piñon or others nuts, living in the mountain near Apache Pass or on the Sulphur Springs valley. The discover of Mexico lands and maybe the Sierra Madre. Naiche certainly began to understand the social structure of his tribe perhaps when visited his grandparents at Santa Lucia Springs or when he met the Nedni band.

He discovered much more the social life in the rancheria. He surely appreciated the mix dances during some na-hi-es ceremonies (girl puberty ritual) that happened in this time. Each spring several hundreds of warriors from Chokonen, Chihenne, Bedonkohe bands and sometimes White Mountain tribe did war dances before leaving to a war expedition against Sonora. Naiche could admire the leadership of his grandfather and his father among the bands. He could also proudly see his big brother Taza leaving as a warrior to his primary expeditions.
Naiche maybe met also some relatives like his uncles Juan, Cascos, Seth-mooda or Savaldora. But he retained more certainly, Yahnozha, Pedes-kinjle and more cousins from other bands. He became, too, a big brother for two full sisters, Naithlo-tonz born c.1858 and Das-den-zhoos born circa 1860. But the hard life of the apaches was not only wonderful, brutal death often happened in the same times.

1857, in late autumn, Naiche saw a lot of Chokonens died of illness after been in contact with Mexicans. In the 1858’s winter, Cascos, the older brother of Dos-teh-seh was killed by Sonoran soldiers during a raid near Cucurpe. The next year, in April, the favorite warrior of Goci was mortally wounded during a revenge expedition in Sonora. I think he was the father of Atelnietze. Now a teenager, Atelnietze was just began his warrior training. The two brothers Goci and Kin-o-tera had to take care of their widow’s sister and her children.
But if Naiche had the same early life than his grandfather and father, time was changed. The beginning of tremendous changes would involve forever the Chiricahua’s world.

2. White Eyes, Dark Destiny.

The Chiricahuas considered that Mexicans were perpetual enemies. They could attack them and came back in safe place, north of the border, in their territory. But with the arrival of the Whites Eyes, all the way of life of the Chiricahuas was disturb by the newcomers. The White Eyes were not much but they opened road, Fort Thorn was built in Chihenne country and some white settled in mescal harvest place. Also, the newcomers hunted too and the game became scarce. So, the headmen of the families had to raid more and more.
If the old chiefs did not understand the changes, the new generation did. They knew it would better not to have another powerful enemy nearer of their country. For the Nednis it would not a matter because they lived in Mexico. The Chokonens choose to have no relation with the White Eyes. And their territory bordered Mexico, they could raid in this country. The Bedonkohes avoided them too but in their mind raided white settlement was not an act of war, so they raided some along the Rio Grande. The Chihennes more impacted preferred to have friendly relationship with the Americans.
All the chiefs knew they have to maintained peace with the Americans. Few like Jlin-tay-i-tith would be at any price to elude war. Few like Goyalkla would be without any concession of their spirituality. Most of the chiefs would ready to loose some their behaviors until one limit, but for each this limit would be different.

2.1. 1856 and 1857.

After the Fort Thorn treaty in 1855, Dr Steck was named Gila Apache agent. He quickly owned the confidence of the Chihennes especially Baishan and Jlin-tay-i-tith. The great chief Kan-da-zis-tlishishen trusted him too because he was honest and considered the apaches like human being as equal than the whites.
The agent successfully convinced the Chihennes even Tudeevia to farm some corns even. Itàn was more reluctant and Kan-da-zis-tlishishen could not manage that because of his spring foray against Sonora. And the chiefs forbidden their warriors to raid the Americans. Dr Steck tried through Kan-da-zis-tlishishen to contact the Bedonkohes without success. But the Fort Thorn treaty was not yet ratified in 1856 by the congress, so the money was not available to buy rations. All the Chihennes chiefs complained of that and needed to feed their people.

Also, Kan-da-zis-tlishishen lost his control on the Bedonkohe band, especially on the gota of the very independent Goyakla. This gota raided on the Rio Grande, and after tracking them, captain Chandler attacked them, in march 1856, refund the bounty and killed three warriors. It would be retaliated.
In Chihuahua, the Gol-ga-enes nednis were hit hard by soldiers and with lacéres asked for a peace with Chihuahua authorities in June 1856. Itàn disappointed by the few rations given by Americans wanted too a peace agreement with Chihuahua. During this time of discussion, The Chokonens and Bedonkohes did much damages in Sonora and Bi-duye with some forty Chihennes had his same way in Chihuahua.
Dr Steck tried to convince the Chiricahuas to stop their war against Mexico but for the Apaches, Americans was an issue, Mexico was another and White eyes had not to interfere on their relation with the Mexicans. On November 1856, Goyakla with Bedonkohes warriors, Yaque of the Chokonens, allied with White Mountains made a raid against Navajos; They met by mistake Navajo's agent Dodge and captured him. He was killed by a White Mountain warrior. After that the raiding men split in two and the Chiricahuas did a raid near Las Lunas.

The death of Dodge was known only on December and at the beginning of 1857, a military expedition under Colonel Bonneville was decided against the Bedonkohes and the White Mountains. Hungry and feared mortal mistakes by blue soldiers during their expedition, most of the Chihennes, unless Itàn and Baishan, crossed the borders to treat and have rations from Chihuahua in Janos. Itàn was killed with six of his warriors while coming back from a raid along the Rio Grande, by American soldiers. I think his gota disappeared after that. All the Chiricahuas, except some Chihennes under Baishan, were living south of the border when Bonneville began his expedition in may 1857. All the Nednis and most of the Chihennes were at Janos, feeding by Chihuahuans. The Chokonens, the Bedonkohes and hostiles Chihennes under Kan-da-zis-tlishishen, Cascos, Goci and Bi-duye were near Fronteras trying to negotiate a truce.
The 24 of May, the Bonneville’s soldiers confounded the rancheria of Baishan with hostile apaches. They attacked and killed Baishan, six other people and captured nine Chihennes. In Mexico, tired to wait news from Fronteras, the bellicose Chiricahuas came in Janos to had rations and did business. The Chihuahuan authorities wanted to take advantage of the presence of the majority of Chiricahuas. They poisoned the rations. The apaches became ill and one by one to escape the illness, each gota came back in his territory. Some one hundred to one hundred and fifty chiricahuas died from poisoned rations like Lacères.

2.2. 1858 to 1860.

When the Chiricahuas came back in US, some changes had occurred. Miners, mostly from Mexican origins, opened again the mines near Santa Rita. A road between Texas and California was created and crossed the Chiricahua country. The company of stagecoaches Butterfield Overland Mail built stagecoach stations in Cook’s Peak, Stein’s Peak or Apache Pass, well defended by frontiersmen with modern guns. Fort Buchanan was built west of the Chokonen territory and ranchers settled in San Simon valley.
Facing settlers along the mimbres river, agent Steck thought it was time to create a reservation for his Apaches. He discussed that with the Chihennes Chiefs who seemed agree about that. Dr Steck would think the best place was around the Santa Lucia and Gila springs. He would have to convince US officials in Washington.
Suspicious and anxious about the Americans, the Chokonens of Colchòn contacted again the Sonoran authorities whom they knew better than US ones, in Fronteras. But it was unsuccessful at the end of 1857.

As already written, Cascos was killed in Sonora, in march 1858. It seemed that during the avenging expedition, with the lost of their most powerful chief, the Bedonkohes went again under Kan-da-zis-tlishishen leadership. After helping the Bedonkohes to retaliate Cascos’ death, the Chokonen contacted again Fronteras. The gota of Colchòn went in July 1858 to get a truce for all the Chokonens. It seemed that Esqualine and Naiche’s father, Goci, were the band chiefs now.
But as often, Mexicans betrayed the apaches and the 14th of July during the talking, mescal was offered to Apaches. Intoxicated, twenty-six men and ten women were murdered including Colchòn. This murdered ambush meant the disappearance of one Chokonen gota. It would have to be revenged. The Chokonen called the help from the other bands to attack Fronteras. The Bedonkohes answers as well some Chihennes maybe under Bi-duye. But the attack in september was not a success and each band came back home, surely to harvest mescal.
In November, Dr Steck issued rations to the Chihennes and to all the Bedonkohes. It was certainly the first time that all of this band was there and the first time Goyakla met an apache agent. In fact, all the chiefs from the gotas living north of the border forbidden attacks or raids against white settlers, because they knew it would mean pursuit by blue soldiers and at the end war against another powerful nation. And the Chiricahua couldn’t fight two such nations. Agent Steck talked to the chiefs his idea to create a reservation around the Santa Lucia and Gila springs for the two bands. The chiefs were agreed. Perhaps it was during those talking that Kan-da-zis-tlishishen informed Steck about their cousins the Chokonen, living in Arizona.

After that, Kan-da-zis-tlishishen brought his band at apache Pass to participated to another foray in Sonora with the Chokonens, early in December 1858. If Goci came back home soon after the departure, the Bedonkohes stayed in Sonora two months and on December 13, the gota of Goyakla was attacked, in the Otas Mountains, and the war shaman lost a wife and a child.
After the return of the warriors the employees of the stagecoach station of Apache Pass arranged a meeting between the Chokonens and Dr Steck. It was the first time this band met American officials. Like with others chiefs before, the agent owned the confidence of Goci and Esqualine. He issued rations to the Chokonens in mid-December 1858. Naiche perhaps was there during the giving.

The year after was most peaceful since a long time for the Chiricahuas. The Chihennes and the Bedonkohes tried to change their way of life with the advices of their trust agent, Dr Steck. The Chokonens had friendly relationship with the employees of the Butterfield Overland Mail company. But more and more white eyes arrived and it was urgent to create the reservation to isolate from the Americans, the Chiricahuas for the safety of each other.
But in 1860, the situation was in degradation because of a multiple factor. First the rations giving by the Americans were too scarce and raids on American settlements improved in Arizona. Some Chokonens asked for a truce in Janos, maybe with Nednis. Tudeevia left his country for a rest because of the presence of the miners. He joined Esqualine and the two asked peace at Fronteras.
For the Mexicans, it would better that the Chiricahuas lived peacefully in Mexico and raided in USA. Unfortunately, Goci every spring led a strong war party across Sonora. It was again the case in 1860. The grandfather and the father of Naiche facing difficulties to their wish of peace relation with the American. How feed their people without raiding because the animals disappeared by the White Eyes and the US government did not feed them enough. Also, a small gold rush erupted in march 1860 near Piños Altos in the heart of the Ne-be-ke-yen-de’s territory and quickly a town was built.

At the end of 1860, the Chokonens, except the gota of Yaque, were near Fronteras trying a truce to be feed, even Goci’s gota. It seemed that Yones and her son were sent to inform the Sonoran officials that Goci was ready for a truce. Tudeevia’s gota and I think the one of Bi-duye was there too for the Chihennes. Yaque’s chokonens and all the Nednis seemed to be in Janos. Where the official thought he could do business with them by buying the bounty they done in USA.
In USA stayed only the Bedonkohes, and the Chihennes under Jlin-tay-i-tith. They tried to farm and waited the return of Steck announcing the creation of a reservation. At this time the bands had have some new leaders. The Chihennes were leading by Tudeevia, Jlin-tay-i-tith, Riñon and Bi-duye but they always looked at Kan-da-zis-tlishishen in time of crisis. This chief became again the band chief of the Bedonkohes helped by his brother Phalio Palacios, one his other son Luis and in war by the shaman Goyakla. The Chokonens had as band chiefs Esqualine and the father of Naiche, Goci. The Nednhis were leading by Tuscaze and the sons of Lacères, Galindo and Tandinbilnojui.

NEXT : 3 The trauma of a life: The “cut the tent’s” event.

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3. The trauma of a life: The “Cut the tent” events.

Early in January 1861, Goci brought back his gota at home near Apache Pass. He was tired to wait a word, from the governor of Sonora, Pesquiera, announcing that Sonora was agreed to negotiate. His gota was on their winter camp. When tension happened, the previous year, between US and him, when challenged by officers from Fort Buchanan, Goci always proved his integrity and friendship by bring back bounty or saying the truce. Satisfied each time after the meeting, the officers were not stubborn. One of the biggest principles that Goci had and transmitted to his sons was not to lie. He always was furious about people when they doubted about his integrity.

27th of January 1861, 20 miles south of Fort Buchanan, some Apaches stole some castle and captured a young teenage boy., a half breed Mexican-Apache, named Félix at Ward’s ranch. John Ward was his stepfather. The day after the military saw that the raider’s trail seemed to go in the Chokonen territory. If the military looked back on previous raids, they would know that the Chokonens never took captive in USA when they did a raid. But the officers did not that. Years after, it would know that Félix was captured by White Mountains or Cibecue Apaches and raised by them.

29th of January 1861, the commandant of Fort Buchanan, lieutenant-colonel Morrison gave order to take back the child and the castle by any way the officer would judge right to act. Fifty soldiers under the orders of second lieutenant Bascom left the fort in direction of Apache Pass. John Ward went with them.
The Chokonens of Goci saw them but they were not worry. It often happened that soldiers used the Butterfiel road in patrol or to escort convoys. The ranchéria was peaceful in her winter camp.

3rd of February 1861, the soldiers arrived at the Apache Pass’s stagecoach station. They were welcomed by two men and two Mexican women. The first information they got was that nobody heard of a white captive in Goci’s camp. Bascom sent the two women to Goci to inform him that the soldiers wanted to have a parley with him. After the soldiers camped one mile near the station. I think Goci took time to investigate on his own. He certainly sent a messenger to his close White Mountain ally, Francisco, to have more information to give to the soldiers.

4th of February 1861, without news of Goci, Bascom losing patience asked a station’s employee to go at Goci’s ranchéria to invite the chief of a talking with the soldiers. Remembered the previous meetings with the officers in such case, Goci was confident of his friendship with them. He came felling no matter to arrive.
If he thought troubles could arrive, he would come only with warriors in arms on a meeting outside strangers‘ camp. But instead the Apaches went unarmed, except knives, at the meeting in the soldiers’ camp, in the evening this tragic day.
With Goci were his beloved brother, Kin-o-tera, two cousins of Naiche already warriors, Dos-teh-seh, Naiche and, I guess, Naithlo-tonz.
Naiche certainly was impressed by so much soldiers just in front of him, but they surely be kind with him, sharing their food. Staying with his mother, his sister and on cousin outside the officer tent, he saw his father, his other “father” Kin-o-tera and his other cousin entered in the officer’s tent, which was closed after them. I do not think soldiers surrounded the tent because Dos-teh-seh or the outside warrior would alarm their relatives inside.

While eating, playing with his sister or watching the life’s camp, Naiche suddenly heard some loudly speaks from inside the tent. Shortly after, he saw his father cut the front of the tent and ran under much gunfires which surely terrified the little boy he was. He also saw his cousins under arrest, with one wounded. His beloved Kin-o-tera, maybe knocked a little bit, was arrested too. At this time his sister may cried as well maybe him, feeling the fear of his mother, Naiche perhaps thought “What happened; why the white soldiers were friendly before and now they are angry with me; why my father abandoned us in the middle of these soldiers; my father seemed hit, is he alive?”

Listening his uncle answering Dos-teh-seh, Naiche certainly knew what happened. Sharing his meal, the officer accused Goci that his warriors had stolen castle of John Ward and captured his stepson. First Goci denied and explained that some White Mountain Apaches did the raid. Secondly, he gave his words to bring back the boy in ten days. I think Goci wanted to buy the boy with the help of Francisco already in Goci’s camp. The previous year, each time Goci in same situation gave his words, was trusted by American officers and he kept them. But this time the young officer was an idiot who accused the chief of lying and informed him that Goci was now his prisoner with his companions until Kin-o-tera would come back with the captive’s boy.
As soon the translator finished to talk, the three apaches looked each other and acted. Goci cut the tent in front, Kin-o-tera did the same thing at the back and the nephew tried to restrain the White eyes and was wounded doing that. Kin-o-tera escaping the tent, felt and was caught by the soldiers.
One hour later, Naiche knew his father was alive and did not abandon them. Goci came back asking to see his brother, but the soldiers answered with their guns. The soldiers decided to move in the station before the night. Naiche certainly remembered some stories of what happen when Chiricahuas were captured by the Mexicans. The men were murdered, the women and children sold in slavery away from their home. Why the White Eyes would not do the same things? Below a white flag, like the Mexicans, they ambushed his father, no? At five years old, knowing that, even if his mother and uncle tried to reassure him and his sister, Naiche could feel that they feared the worst. The night came and Naiche if he slept, dreamt certainly nightmares.

5th of February 1861, early morning, Goci with his warriors and apparently some White Mountains of Francisco shew up. The chief wanted a talk between the line with Bascom. Naiche certainly saw hist father talking some sixty yards of him. Suddenly when the soldiers began to come back three employees whom the Chokonens had friendly relationship, left the station in foot to try of finding a wise solution for everybody. But after they disappeared in a ravine, Naiche could hear a fight and two of employees came back, one injured and the other was killed by soldiers arriving at the station. But the third seemed captured by Goci’s warriors. The lieutenant was furious against the civilians and probably Goci. This night was maybe more comfortable for Naiche.
Kin-o-tera certainly explained to the boy, that his father had a prisoner to exchange for him. The Chiricahua did like that when Mexicans had apache captives. And during the night with secret Chokonen sounds, Naiche knew that his father watched the station all the time, that his grandfather was there too, he just came back from his Sonora foray.

6th of February 1861, at lunch, Goci made an appearance with his captive and asked to free his family and he would do the same. An exchange like that had said the adults to Naiche. But the answer of Bascom would chock the Apache prisoners and certainly made them very nervous. The lieutenant said that Goci must bring back Félix Ward if he wanted back his family. A such stubborn proposal and the fact that no Chokonen had the boy, would not allow a good end. Another anxious night for Naiche, even his father sent secret messages saying that he would do anything to free them. Did Kin-o-tera know this night, that his brother had at this time three more captives? It was possible. But if he said to the soldiers, he would show that his brother communicated with him.

7th of February 1861 was a day of waiting. Just perturbated by the soldiers’ expedition to the springs bringing the mules to drink. At the beginning of the afternoon, however, gunfires were heard some miles west of the station, and few after a stagecoach arrived from with an injured man inside. Goci tried to have more captives to exchange but he failed. In fact, the chief waited an answer of Bascom which was never happen because the lieutenant never had the information until this day that Goci had four hostages. I think the chief successfully informed his relatives that the next day they would attack the station to free them. The same evening some soldiers left the camp to seek reinforcement. Naiche probably slept a little, listening or looking for anything that signaled the attack led by his father and grandfather to deliver them. And it was a frozen weather because snow felt this night.

8th of February 1861, in discretion the prisoners waited the attack. The signal happened near the springs just after the soldiers had finished to get drink the mules. A party of warriors stampeded all the mules the white eyes got. It was a decoy to force Bascom a secure action and divided his forces. But when he saw Goci and the majority of the warriors ready to action against the station, he came back with his soldiers putting an end of the fight. Goci would not lose too much warriors to release his family. The soldiers did not know but all the apaches did, the fight was over, there would be no freedom. Based with Mexicans experiences, I guess, Goci and the prisoners thought it was over. They thought that the male captives would be murdered or died in prison while the woman and the children would be sold as slaves. So Goci let his people tortured to death and mutilated his hostages. And after he went to Sonora with all the Chokonens. This night was surely a desperate one for Naiche because he may feel abandoned by his father and anxious of his future as his mother and his sister too. Perhaps Taza stayed to spy the camp to know what would happen to his relatives.

9th to 14th of February 1861, those days were long for everybody because the soldiers thought they were surrounded yet and the prisoners waited in a big stress answers about their future. More bad news for Naiche and his family came. Reinforcement arrived the 10th and the 14th. With them were three captured Apache warriors apparently Chiricahuas. The prisoners were kept by one hundred angry and nervous soldiers. They had lost comrades because of Naiche’s father. Naiche spent ten desperate nights with a lot of questions from the five years old young boy he was, surrounded by tall men, armed with modern guns and whom he did not understand their language.

15th to the 18th of February 1861, the soldiers patrolled in the mountains around and saw no Apaches, even some warriors where there to spy them. But the 18th they discovered the four mutilated white corpses under a four oaks butte. Coming back to the station, as I understand and probably told by Dos-teh-seh to Goci and Naiche, that the life or death of Dos-the-she, Naiche and Naithlo-tonz depended of a cards game. The spared team won the game. This fact was maybe wrong but what it was sure is that Naiche and his family believed it.

19th of February 1861, everybody moved and quitted Apache Pass’ station. The column stopped near the four oaks and the officers through the interpreter informed the six men that they would be executed by hanging. The men protested and wanted to be shot. But the soldiers did not want. After a last goodbye to Naiche, his mother and his sister, the warriors advanced to the oak and the ropes in begging, dancing or singing their war acts. I think the soldiers did not put bags on the head of the warriors. The men were not hanging quickly by broken neck. The soldiers pulled up each warrior very high in the oaks and Kin-o-tera and the others died slowly by suffocation with agitation. Naiche certainly watch that and saw the face, of his beloved second father, be flushed, his lung almost totally outside the mouth and a horrible expression of his eyes.
Even an apache child, usual to listen stories of horrible death, to see brutal death and ready to flee at any danger, would feel traumatic by these fifteen days at five years old. They were liberated by the soldiers here under the dead bodies hanged. A Chokonen spy, maybe Taza, after the departure of the soldiers secured them and brought back to Goci. But these moments were surely outstanding Naiche for the rest of his life. I think at each main decision he would make, as an adult, in his relation with White Eyes and especially with blue soldiers, these tragic moments would come back in his mind.

Bascom made distrustful of the Americans not only Goci but more deeply his five years old son, Naiche.

NEXT : CHILDHOOD AND TEENAGEHOOD IN WARTIME.

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CHILDHOOD AND TEENAGEHOOD IN WARTIME

1. Historical context during those times.

• Between 1861 and 1865, a bloody civil war erupted in USA.
• In 1861 also, a French military expedition was launched in Mexico to install a catholic empire to balance the protestant USA. Napoleon the third put in charge of Mexico an Austria’s prince, Maximilien. Most of the Mexicans reacted, under Bénito Juarez, and fought against the French, their Europeans and conservative Mexicans allies.
Those two wars made the southwest of USA and the north of Mexico under much contraband. And it allowed the Apaches, not only the Chiricahuas, to take again the control of their territory. But it also brought voluntary us armies, with brutal soldiers and officers who thought that the Native Americans had to be exterminated or placed in a concentration camp. And in Mexico, to help the few soldiers maintained in forts, scalp hunters were recruited.
• From 1865 and 1868, blue soldiers came back in force in Arizona and New Mexico. With Ulysse Grant as president, a new Indian policy of more human approach was decided between 1868 and 1872
• However, in Mexico since 1867, the only policy with Chiricahuas would be extermination even by old betrayal ambushes.

2. Years of mourning with a furious father.

2.1. The father almost chased the White Eyes.

Naiche was certainly happy after those fifteen anxious and dramatic days, to see his father. They reunited below the border near Fronteras. But he did not recognize his father. Deeply afflicted by Kin-o-tera’s death, Goci was very furious and talked only of killing every Americans he would encounter. On his revenge he wanted to chase all the White Eyes living in Chokonen’s country. Goci convinced all the Chokonens to be united under his authority and command in this war. All the gota’s chiefs were agreed to accept, it seemed, this new leadership structure.
In the family affairs, his father had to take care, now, of Kin-o-tera’s family, two years after his sister’s. After a time of mourning, in the traditional way Goci married Yones. Chie, like previously Atelnietze, became a closer “brother” of Naiche than ever. This “brother” would begin his warrior training period.
After a month of rest in Sonora, the Chokonen’s band went north and camped near the Mogollon mounts. During their return, the Chokonens saw that the stagecoach stations were abandoned. They thought that was because of their promises of war like fifteen years before in Sonora. In Mogollon camp, Naiche had a happier meeting because his grandparents were here too. Indeed, the Chokonens, the Bedonkohes and the Ne-be-ke-yen-de’s gota hold a council. Encouraged by the abandon of the Butterfield stagecoach road, Goci convinced the other chiefs to enter in war against the Americans. Kan-da-zis-tlishishen followed the wish of his son-in-law.

So, it was decided to attack the White Eyes, in Arizona and in New Mexico. The Bedonkohes under Goyakla, Chiva and Phalio Palacios followed Kan-da-zis-tlishishen in a schedule to harass the miners around Piños Altos, Santa Rita del Cobre and the soldiers of Fort McLane. Maybe Kan-da-zis-tlishishen was in charge to persuade the Chihennes to take actions too. In the same time the Chokonens chiefs Goci, Esqualine, Yaque and Taces would concentraded their attack along the road, the Patagonia mines and against Fort Buchanan.
After the council, sixty Chokonen’s warriors stayed in Arizona, while the others with the women and Children came back below the border, in a safe place from blue soldiers, near Fronteras. This fort would, also, be a place of trading the bounty the warriors would steal. Mostly during three months, the families did not see much their warriors and Naiche especially his father, busy leading his revenge. When the warriors went back, some were missed others were injured like lightly his father. If the warriors holding modern guns were confident after victories, and that the soldiers could not purchase them, the women were anxious to lose a love’s one, father, husband or son killed in action. Naiche felt certainly that from his mother because his father, as a chief, had to lead by example, in front of his warriors.

In June 1861, Nednhis joined the Chokonen’s ranchérias, near Fronteras, after Chihuahua soldiers attacked them. Juan, the other brother of Goci, would belong to the Haiahende’s gota, I suppose. The headman of this gota warriors was Tandinbilnoju, already with a strong reputation to be successful in war and raiding expeditions. Naiche saw a heavy built warrior with a very long hair. When Goci returned from his previous expedition in Arizona, with his successes he could easily convince the Nednhis to follow him to another foray in Arizona. Certainly, half of the Nednhi’s warriors led by Tandinbilnoju joined him. Naiche surely learned that his father had with him his close friend Francisco and his White Mountains Apaches.
At their return, the warriors explained that a lot of Whites Eyes had left the Chokonen territory. Stagecoach stations were closed; ranches, farms abandoned; the soldiers did not go away from their fort with a lack of chiefs. If a lot of miners quitted the country, they were still numerous in the Patagonia’s mines. Like in New Mexico, Apaches hatred those selfish and brutal men but heavy threat for Native Americans if armed.

After a short rest, the Chiricahua allies moved in the Animas mountains apparently in Chihuahua, just north of Janos where they could make illegal trades. Here they were joined by all the Bedonkohes and the Chihennes’ gota of Tudeevia and the one of Riñon and Bi-duye, finally convinced by Kan-da-zis-tlishishen. I think around three hundred and fifty warriors were concentrated. The plan was to cut the miners of Piños Altos from their only road of supply. And the best place was at Dzisl-ta-natal in New Mexico. Naiche was never used to see such many of Chiricahua warriors. It was maybe impressed him.
In mid-July, most of the warriors left the camp. During a month and half, the warriors were outside the ranchérias certainly under the guard of the older or injured men. Soon the departure, Goci came back but it was just to heal Taza and buy ammunition in Janos. It seemed that Taza was seriously hit at the first fight. Then the rest of the summer Naiche would participate to take care, with his faculties, of his brother.
But the people moved without waiting the warriors because Chihuahua soldiers under Joaquin Terrazas killed some apaches around Janos, and the Chiricahuas thought that he would continue to attack. So, they moved west and established their ranchérias near Fronteras. They were Chokonens and Nednhis. They certainly learned in the same period that the blue soldiers abandoned Fort Buchanan, Brekenbridge and McLane. First Naiche like others of his people thought this was because of the warfare led by his father and grandfather. The little boy was told that Miguel Narbona and his grandfather, twelve years earliers, had the same results when they were in a total war against Sonora after the slaughter of Chiricahuas at Galeana.
Soon, Goci, after victorious fights and at last a defeat, came back with his warriors and some hundred of oxen and sheep, new guns, ammunition and money. Very quickly the warriors left again with reinforcement. They went north to join the Bedonkohes and Chihennes in the schedule to destroy Piños Altos. A hard battle took place on September 27th, 1861 with heavy casualties on each side, no one seemed to win this battle. If the city was not destroyed a lot of miners flew to a better and safe life, after. The Chiricahuas lost some prominent men. Tudeevia, Esqualine, perhaps Yaque and Galindo were killed during the fight.
The Chokonens and the Nednhis then welcome their men returning from the fight. It was time to gather nuts and prepare the people for the winter coming. Thinking the White Eyes would attack, Naiche’s father led his people to negotiate with Fronteras. He sent Yones to tell his wishes to the Mexicans and allowed Remigio (likely Kla-esh) to negotiate on his name.

At the end of 1861, the Chiricahuas had again the complete control of their country between Mesilla in New Mexico and Tucson in Arizona. Only Miners around Piños Altos (NM) and Patagonia mines (A) staid. Goci had become a tribal war leader. He now also understood that if the blue soldiers quitted the forts it was because the White Eyes fought each other in the East and each side needed soldiers.
Taking a long rest in north Sonora during the autumn, Naiche’s gota returned near apache Pass for the winter. It was a good decision from his father because Chihuahua’s soldiers were still active against Apaches, they killed Phalio Palacios near lake Guzman, and smallpox appeared in north of Mexico during the winter. Maybe fifty to one hundred Chiricahuas, mostly Chokonens and Nednis, succumbed among them the Chokonen chief Parte.
When Goci called for a campaign on the next spring against the Patagonia miners. Naiche heard certainly his father whishing to chase the last White Eyes to stay in Chokonen’s country. Only the healthy Chokonens responded. After the dead of headmen, the previous year, the Chokonens chiefs were now Goci, Taces, Cathla and Remigio. The Nednis would not help and the Bedonkohes and Chihennes following Kan-da-zis-tlishishen tried to get a truce at Piños Altos.
To avoid heavy casualties, they did not attack in a frontal fight. They ambushed men arriving or leaving the mines. Goci wanted to starve, to scare enough the miners and to force them to leave or to weak them waiting his reinforcement. But in may 1862, news from scouts were listen on the ranchérias; Naiche surely did not like what he heard, the blue soldiers were arrived from the west and stationed in Tucson. Then his father stopped his campaign against the miners, thinking that the US army came to punish the Chokonens.

In late June, Goci had a talk at Apache Pass with soldiers travelling to join General Canby in New Mexico. Learning that others soldiers would cross the mountains, Goci decided to ambush them at Apache Pass. But he needed more warriors. His new reputation allowed him to attract a lot of warriors. All the Chokonens were there. Kan-da-zis-tlishishen, after an unsuccessful try of truce in New Mexico, arrived with all the Bedonkohes. The Chihennes under Riñon, Bi-duye and Kas-tziden followed the aging chief. Tandinbilnojui also led warriors, certainly fifty of his Nednhis. Francisco, the close White Mountain friend, was there too with his warriors.
Naiche watched around four hundred and fifty warriors responded to Goci and put them under the command of his father, would make him very proud. Naiche never saw so much Apache’s warriors in a same place and he would not see so much anymore. Taza was again ready to fight and maybe Atelnietze had joined the war party as a dikohe.
The fight againts one hundred and fifty soldiers was heard from the ranchérias at least the sound of the howitzers which terrified warriors. It lasted two days but it was after the first day that Naiche knew that his grandfather was hit in the chest. It was decided to bring the old chief at Janos to find a doctor to heal him. The Bedonkohes escorted him. He was certainly the last time that Naiche saw Kan-da-zis-tlishishen. After the second day of the battle, Goci led his people in Sonora, to secure them. Goci led his gota on the Sierra Madre, perhaps welcoming by Tandinbilnojui. Surely, Naiche discovered those mountains beloved by the Nednhis like the Chokonens loved their Chiricahuas Mountains. It seemed that half of the Chokonens followed Goci and the other half negotiate again a truce at Fronteras under Remigio.

Naiche, with his child eyes, thought that his father almost chased the White Eyes during the last one and half year. But now the hatred blue soldiers came back, occupied again the old forts and build a new in the middle of the Chokonen’s country, at Apache Pass. The fort was named Fort Bowie. This fort would be an important place in Naiche’s life. If his father had a lot of victories, several warriors were killed among them prominent men on each band. Also, the men of the families were injured like Taza or Kan-da-zis-tlishishen. Maybe Naiche’s mother tried to calm down a little his husband, but next events would renew the warfare.

NEXT : 2.2 Great Mourning and disappearances.

[coeurrouge]

2.2. Great Mourning and disappearances.

Naiche heard that his father was upset about the other Chokonens in peace but dependents from Sonora. Goci camped near the Haiahende gota were lived certainly Naiche’s uncle Juan and his family. But early in the winter, they heard terrible news from the US territory and then moved north immediately. Naiche did not understand what happened but it was something wrong about his grandfather and his family. Dos-teh-seh was in great pain and sadness.
They certainly joined some Bedonkohes south of Arizona. They explained what happened. Goci already knew that his father in law decided, understanding that war against Americans would be the end of the Chiricahuas, to have a peace in his territory. The Grey soldiers were left and replaced by Blue soldiers. Kan-da-zis-tlishishen always trusted the US officers, so he planned to discuss with them an armistice in Piños Altos. Goyakla and the others headmen of the Bedonkohes, and after, Kas-tziden and Bi-duye tried to dissuade the old chief this attempt at this time.

But the chief refused to listen. Also, the miners at Piños Altos held a white flag top of their house and Kan-da-zis-tlishishen thought the White Eyes wanted the peace too. But it was a trap. The 17th of January 1863, Kan-da-zis-tlishishen was captured and brought to Fort McLane the next day. During the night, executing the order of General West, the soldiers assassinated the great tribal chief, since 1835. The worst came after. The soldiers scalped him, cut his head and abandoned the rest of his body. The next day, some cavalry men attacked the Ne-be-ke-yen-de ranchéria waiting anxiously news from the chief. Twelve people were killed and one injured. Tu-es-eh was the injured and Seth-mooda was among the dead.
The news certainly terrified Naiche.

Again, Blue soldiers said they wanted to talk but betrayed the Chiricahuas and this time it was his strong grandfather and one uncle who were killed.
Again, the death was horrible. Naiche was told that the dead people went to the other world in the same corpse they died in this life. In the other world the Apache had to struggle too. Long hairs are sacred for the Apaches. How his grandfather would be recognized by his people without his hair and how could he help, walk, run, see, talk, etc…without his head.
Again, mourning was in the family but this time it was worst. It seemed that not only his mother was crying but also all the Chiricahuas. His mother cut short her hair and cut her skin in sign of mourning.
Again, his father took his furious face and Naiche knew, it would signify revenge. The murder of his grandfather convinced Naiche that the Blue soldiers who ever they were, were liars.

The death of Kan-da-zis-tlishishen and the attack of their ranchéria marked the end of the Ne-be-ke-yen-de gota. They divided, some of the Chihennes’ part integrated the gota of Jlin-tay-i-tith with Salvadora, I guess, while the majority of the Chihennes followed, like young Mangus, the other sons of the chief, Thastine and Cassori (Tomaso Colradas and Lopez) joining Riñon and Bi-duye. The Bedonkohes’ part joined the Chokonens under the lead of José Mangas. I think it was since that time Naiche and Pedes-kinjle became friends.
It was also the end of the Bedonkohes as a band. They joined Goci too, following Goyakla, Chiva, Luis and Esquine. The Chokonens saw their cousins sad and lost without the man who was their chief since 1820. Then Goyakla, since this time, would be closer to Goci than before. He would become one of the principal advisor of Goci on war subjects and a precious link with the Nednhis. First Naiche thought he was another headman following his father, but it was told to the boy that Goyakla was a war shaman with a very powerful diyin.

Soon after, some men while coming to trade a bounty at Fronteras were killed and their belongs stolen. Furious Goci attacked and killed some civilians. Now the Chirichuas were at war against USA and Mexico. During the spring, the Chokonen ranchérias camped in the southeast of Arizona to harvest and prepare the mescal.
Like the 1861’s summer, under Goci, Chiricahuas warriors united to avenge the great Chief murdered by Blue soldiers. Again, the father would be absent all the summer of the ranchéria and with him certainly Taza and Atelnietze. The warriors ambushed successfully several military men at Dzisl-ta-natal. Mainly Chokonens and Chihennes they came back with much bounty. And the Chokonens led by Goci stole all the horses from Fort bowie before returned to their camps. But a new era begun for the women and Children.
When the warriors left for expedition, their families were relatively safe in their country, in Arizona and New Mexico. It was less the case in Sonora and Chihuahua except in the Sierra Madre. But in 1863, like Mexicans soldiers, the US soldiers proved several times that they could surprise ranchérias and killed women and children too. It meant for the families to be ready to flew abandoning everything at any suspect sound. And then, in war with the two bordered nations, the Chiricahuas had no more really safe place to live. Naiche was surely confident of his father to elude attacks in their camp because he was one of the few chiefs to guard the camp by sentries.

It was not the Blue soldiers but the Mexicans who were the more aggressive. In end of September 1863, soldiers under captain Escalante from Sonora attacked a little ranchéria and killed Taces in the Pitaicache mounts. The alarm was given to all the others camps and the Chokonens scattered. Eskinye replaced Taces as chief of the gota. Also, some miners surprised another group of Chokonens and killed some, along the San Pedro river. In Chihuahua, Joaquin Terrazas led a successful campaign against the Gol-ga-enes Nednis. They killed Cojinillin and sometimes later Felipé and forty-six members of this division were captured by Janos Civilians. It marked the disappearance of the Gol-ga-enes. The survivors united with the Nednhis.

Naiche heard certainly of these events but he had like his gota others things to think. They had always to move to escape their pursuers. Hunt was too difficult because game was scarce and gathering and hunting were too risky. When men hunted, they were few in schedule to be efficient and to not have divided the hunt with men from other families. But it also meant isolated and vulnerable from an enemy patrol and if discovered, shot. The gathering forced the women and children to leave the relative safety of the ranchéria. like the hunting it could finish in an unfortunate meeting with enemies. So, the Chiricahuas had great difficulties to feed themselves in traditional ways. So, to find food the warriors had to raid most of the time. But in autumn 1863 and the begining of 1864, the weapons of the warriors were out of service because they were lack of ammunition and their bow inefficient. The people and Naiche knew starvation during this time.
But the following winter was worst. Goci maybe listening the moderate Chokonen headmen agreed to attempt another truce in Fronteras. The group sent was destroyed, earlier in 1864, while waiting the emissaries also killed. Thirty Chokonens died. In expedition against Piños Altos, Luis was shot down with twelve other warriors several weeks later. Goci leaving north of the Chiricahua mounts, knew he would have to lead the revenge of those deaths. The 22nd of march, he avenged Luis and returned with a lot of mules at his camp, in Graham Mounts.

Certainly the 28th or 29th of march 1864, the soldiers of captain Whitlock attacked by surprise the ranchéria. It was a chock for Naiche. The soldiers killed men but mostly women and children, twenty-one in all. The warriors badly armed did their best to protect the people but they had to let the entire camp to the soldiers. The gota lost everything and it certainly stunned the young boy Naiche. The father he admired did not prevent this attack and for the first time Naiche saw brutal death in his camp. It maybe broke in Naiche’s mind the invulnerability of his father. He certainly thought “if my father‘s camp could be attack, where is a safe place for us?”
The gota like plenty of Chokonens took refuge in the White Mountain ranchéria of Goci’s close friend Francisco. After a rest and to elude Carleton’s campaign, Goci led the band south of Arizona after the summer. The Chokonens did some raids in Sonora to stole cattle to feed their people after the summer. But in December 11th 1864, Sonora soldiers destroyed a camp of an extended family, killing thirty-nine Chokonens, surely the last of Colchon’s gota. The only good new was that the illegal market of Janos opened again in the end of 1864 and the French soldiers obliged the Mexican armies to concentrated against those foreigners.

Goci planned in his winter camp on the Dragoon mountains his revenge against Sonora. His warriors had to get new guns and ammunition before. During the first months of 1865, the warriors stroke in Arizona settlements, forts, travelers and took their arms, ammunition or money to buy its certainly in Janos. Joining the Nednhis, Goci and Tandinbilnojui put their people on a secure place in the Sierra Madre. Naiche certainly appreciate those safe mountains from enemies. The warriors raided in march and beginning April united between Janos and Bavispe in a war expedition.
When they came back in the camp, they were victorious from all they did. It surely gave courage to the women and children. Naiche heard maybe his “brothers” proudly explained how they did several ambushes that killed thirty-five Mexicans and done five captives useful to exchange with Chiricahuas prisoners. Now Chie was in his dikohe’s period. Naiche gained again confidence of his father. After this revenge, Goci led his people in their mountains south of Arizona, mainly to harvest the mescal.

Eluding the US volunteers, Goci planned another foray with the Nednhis and his close White Mountain ally Francisco. The Chihennes were not there. Since the beginning of the year, exhausted of war, under Bi-duye, Riñon, Kas-tziden and Salvadora they tried to negotiate with Dr Steck a peace. But General Carleton, inflexible, wanted that the Chihennes surrendered and went at Bosque Redondo, a desert land where Mescaleros Apaches and Navajos died. Refusing to go, they raided again to survive.
In the summer of 1865, the warriors under Goci, Tandibilnojui and Francisco ravaged the southeast Arizona, while their families secured south of the border. In august, the Chokonens opened talks at Fronteras mainly to have an armistice during the winter. But occupied with the French soldiers, Sonoran authorities did not answer. So, they went in Janos in October to sold their bounty. After they separated, every band returning in her winter camps. The small gota of Goyakla stayed apparently with his comrade Tandinbilnojui.

All the Chokonens came back near Apache Pass. Apparently, all the hostiles tried to get an armistice for the winter. Goci proposed this at Fort Bowie the 30th of October. Surprised the officers told the chief to wait and come back in twelve days when they would have orders from their headquarters. The soldiers allowed the women to buy food in the fort the days after. But the commanding officer, during the twelve days of truce, took seventy soldiers and attacked, the 5th of November the ranchéria of Goci killing some people.
He was not the only chief to be betrayal this autumn. Naiche heard that Francisco tried like his father to obtain a truce at Fort Goodwin. He was captured and shot while trying “to escape”. The story remembered the death of Naiche’s grandfather. In the east, in December 1865, Bi-duye opened again talks at Piños Altos, in the beginning it passed well. But when some warriors were in a house while drinking a coffee, they were shot. Three were killed and Bi-duye badly injured in the cheek. Among the dead was maybe Riñon. This treachery remembered to Naiche the one of Bascom. For most of the Chiricahuas, and mainly Naiche, these three untrusty talks by soldiers were another proof to never trust a Blue soldier.

The winter was not calm. The soldiers launched a winter campaign that forced the gota of Goci to often move. Perhaps convinced by Goyakla, Goci led his band near Janos with the Nedhnis. The two inveterate raiders certainly explained that the northern Mexico was empty of soldiers and open to plunder. Also, it was in fact more secure than the US territory and allowed to launch war expedition against Americans letting their families without strong dangers.
Most of 1866, Naiche lived with his mother and the other Chokonen and Nednhi families in northwest of Chihuahua. The warriors doing raids in Sonora and Arizona and sold their bounties at Janos and Casas Grandes. Successful raids were related by the young warriors to the young in the same age of Naiche. But this tranquility was broken in last December 1866, when by surprise Chihuahua soldiers attacked the Chokonen ranchéria and killed six people.

In fact, since the end of the Civil War, the US Government supported president Bénito Juarez against the French. With this decisive help, the French were chased from north Mexico in 1866 and soon the Europeans forces would leave the country in 1867. So, Mexican’s armies of Sonora and Chihuahua could concentrate their strength against the Apaches at the end of 1866. The Chokonens and the Nednhis scattered in the mountains south of Arizona or north of the Sierra Madre.
During these last six years of war against the White Eyes and Mexico, Naiche could observe that it changed a lot of things.

First, some bands disappeared like the Gol-ga-enes, the Bedonkohes and some gotas too. And a lot of prominent chiefs or leaders were killed or died liked Phalio Palacios and Luis from the Bedonkohes, Tudeevia and Riñon from the Chihennes, Cojinillin, Felipé and Galindo from the Nednis, Esqualine, Yaque, Parte and Taces from the Chokonens but the most prominent loss was his grandfather Kan-da-zis-tlishishen. But the heavier losses were when the Chiricahuas thought they were in truce’s periods.

Secondly, they survived and followed new chiefs or headmen like Bi-duye, Jlin-tay-i-tith, Kas-tziden, and Salvadora for the Chihennes, Tandinbilnojui and Tuscaze for the Nednhis, Goyakla, Chiva, Esquine, José Mangas, Kla-esh, Cathla, Eskinye and Nahilzay (a son of Miguel Narbona?) for the Chokonens-Bedonkohes. Goci could in expedition attract all these leaders with their warriors but was not a tribal chief like his father in law.

Third social structure changed a lot for two bands. The Nednhis were united since the death of Lacéres. Each gota, even camped separated, acted as one with Mexicans and Americans. They were under the lone leadership of Tandinbilnojui for important decisions. The Chihenne gota followed their own chief in war and raids but they were always beside each other when they tried peace. The tremendous change was in the Chokonen band. Since 1865, I think, Goci supervised every action of his men in war, raids or peace actionc. The headmen had to report their action to Naiche’s father.
It seemed that when disagrees occurred, Goci could elevated his voice and ready to violent act to maintain his authority. But most of the time he led by example. Naiche certainly watched proudly his father able to feed his people, camped in safety place for women and children most of the time and his warriors were better armed than other Apaches.

Fourth, the way of life of all the Chiricahuas had completely changed. Before raids was made to take plunders to sell, have captives to exchange and to bring notoriety to warriors. They were launched in winter end and in the summer. During the late spring it was time to harvest mescal and in the autumn is was the gathering of nuts. Impossible hunts and risky gathering obliged to do raids more frequently to feed the people. And more raids meant more possibility to die for the warriors. Each killed warrior had to be avenged. War was become The way of life of the Chiricahuas. Since the generation of Naiche all the children, especially the boys, were educated in this way of life. Two, above all the leaders, excelled in this bloody road, Tandinbilnojui and Goyakla.

NEXT : 3. Training to become a warrior with a new mentor.

[Helen Rodriguez]

Nov 12, 2011 10:51:59 GMT -5 Naiche Chiricahua said:

My eternal appreciation to those who have posted photographs of my ancestors. I am so proud of my Apache heritage. It warms my heart and brings great light to my spirit.

[Helen Rodriguez]

Jun 6, 2019 13:29:55 GMT -5 Helen Rodriguez said:

Nov 12, 2011 10:51:59 GMT -5 Naiche Chiricahua said:

My eternal appreciation to those who have posted photographs of my ancestors. I am so proud of my Apache heritage. It warms my heart and brings great light to my spirit.

I was told I am a 3rd GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER TO NAICHE CAN YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME BACK ASAP I WOULD LOVE TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH

[coeurrouge]

3. Training to become a warrior with a new mentor.

3.1. A new mentor.

At the end of 1866, the family of Naiche developed. His father was married with three wives, Dos-teh-seh, a sister of Nahilzay and Yones. Naiche had five sibblings, Taza, two half-sisters, Naithlo-tonz and Das-den-zhoos. Naiche had three others “brothers and sister”, Atelnietze, Chie and the sister of Chie. The younger of all was 5 years old. Atelnietze and Chie were warriors now. The half-sisters and Chie’s sister had their na-hi-es ceremony yet, they were considered like young women now. Taza was a warrior from enough time to prove his good skill at that. He certainly led small parties of raiders. I think he had his own family at this time.
For Naiche it was time to begin his training on the schedule to become a warrior too. During 1867 and 1868 the Chokonens was well acquainted with Tandinbilnojui and his Nednhis, north of Mexico or south of Arizona. Time was always at war and war was the world of Goyakla. The Chokonens were living majority of the time with the Nednhis or Goyakla’s gota; I think Naiche’s father occupied to supervise activities, to lead raids, to take care of the people or to confer with the headmen, Goci had no much time to train his youngest son. Goci and Taza certainly showed how to make weapons, how to use its and explained how took place a raid or a war expedition but they did not the training; So, I supposed Goyakla took in charge, like he would do for next generation of warriors, the warrior training of Naiche. With him were surely his new friend Pedes-kinjle and Yanozha, Naiche’s Nednhi cousin.

It was since then, Naiche knew better Goyakla.
Goyakla was born in 1823, near Gila springs. His father was Taklishim, son of Mahko, the great chief of the Bedonkohes before Kan-da-zis-tlishishen. His mother was Juana who may was a Gol-ga-enes Nedni, daughter or niece of Jasquadegà. They lived with the Bedonkohes because Tasklishim was the son of a great man. Goyakla had a four years older sister, named Nahdoste and maybe a brother called Vicente; Goyakla had cousins who he called “sisters” Nathlteta, same age, Ishton born in 1825 and Ettsohn (Bonita) born circa 1830.
Taklishim died when Goyakla was ten years old. Soon after, his mother may visit his father. And all the family with Jasquadegà were hold prisoners at El Paso between November 1834 and the summer of 1835. Since this time, he got his nickname El Cautivo. Some years later, Nahdoste married the Chihenne chief Kas-tziden. Between twenty and twenty-five years old, Goyakla married a young Nednhi named Geehkizn (Alope). They had three children.
Years after some disaster occurred and Goyakla lost a lot of his kind. He got a powerful diyin that allowed him to not be killed by enemies and give him visions. He was a war shaman. Always moving in the Chiricahua country, he knew it very well. By his connections with other bands, he became important for Goci during his war. His sister was married with Kas-tziden, Nahtleta married Nonithian, a son of Tudeevia and Ishton was the principal spouse of Tandinbilnojui, the Nednhi Chief.
In 1867, Goyakla had three wives, Cheehashkish, Nah-no and Shtashe and at least two young children from Cheehasshkish, a girl Dohn-say and a boy Naclede (Chappo).

Goyakla shew the youngs how to use the ground and the landscape, to feed, to hide, to see trails, to hear natural signals of human presence; he learnt them that their body was their only friend especially the legs. It was why they had to take care of their body and always train their capacity to run even without water or food. They knew that a horse or a mule can help to transport people but was also meat on paws. There were always other horses to replace the ones eaten.
As a war shaman, he certainly taught them the difference between raids and war expedition even Goyakla did not make balance between the two; He seemed to like killing enemies, mainly Mexicans. He told the young boys how to steal castle, horses without warming ranchers, how to plunder supplies and how to make an ambush. He certainly taught that if a warrior was free to participate to an expedition, he had to obey to the leader and be disciplined. Goyakla explained to never attempt an action without sure success to not risk a precious life. There was exception when the people was attacked and the warrior had to be ready to die protecting the women and children.

Among the native Americans in the Southwest, the Apaches were the best warriors and the Chirichuas were the Spartans of this nation. Goyakla seemed recognized as the master of the war laws of his time. He always was an important companion of headmen because of his skills on war. But Goyakla was never a great stratagem man. He never thought about the care of a band but just to his small gota. Since this tough time, some of his people certainly thought he was a selfish man.
But to Naiche, he surely became another mentor who his father was confident during this war period against White Eyes and Mexicans. He was a hard teacher but every learning he gave would be each a survival one to Naiche in the warpath. And now the Mexicans were united to fight the Chiricahuas. While training, Naiche saw his father led expeditions in Sonora and Arizona.

But the enemies responded and first the Chihuahua soldiers in the beginning of April 1867, south of the Chiricahua Mounts, under Ozeta attacked the gota of Tuscaze, killing him with eleven others and capturing twenty-six. Losing more than a third of their people, the Ned-nda-i gota, under their new chief Nolgee, joined Tandinbilnojui. Now the Nednis were most of the time together.
The Americans did not make much damage but obliged the Chokonens to always move on the south. Here Mexicans soldiers tracked them where they were and killed much of them and at the beginning of 1868, a permanent army force stayed at Janos closing the illegal market with the Apaches. In 1868, one hundred Chiricahuas died mostly Chokonens and Nednis. Some by illness but fifty were killed and also twenty-five were captured. Headmen were killed too like José Mangas in November near Janos. Gordo took the lead of the gota after this event. She-ga marrying in late 1868 or beginning of 1869, became the fifth wife of Goyakla and then the shaman was part by alliance of Naiche’s family.

3.2. Responsibility of the youngest: Loyalty.

The parents of Naiche, before he would become a warrior, taught him to be loyal man.
As a son and grandson of Chiricahua chiefs, Naiche would have to be loyal to the memory of his ancestors, Pisago Cabezòn and Kan-da-zis-tlishishen and his father Goci. It would signify bravery in fights, honesty and generosity with people and to not bring shame on the family. This loyalty would need dignity.
As Goci’s son he would stay forever on his birth gota, even married. So more important, his father and brother occupied to take care of the Chokonens, Naiche would have on responsibility the family. As a warrior he would provide food, clothes, tools and other things needed by his family. He would become the main protector of his family. This loyalty would need thoughtfulness and ability.
The final loyalty would be to his father and brother. Whatever decision they would make, Naiche would have to support them in fight and even against others Chiricahuas. His parents never educated him to be a chief, it would be Taza. It was why Goci transmit to Taza his diyin not to Naiche. A warrior could not to be a chief without a diyin. The father teached everything Taza had to know to become a good chief. To Naiche, Goci and Dos-teh-seh taught him to be the greatest supporter of his brother. This loyalty would be executed with humility and courage.

During the final period of his warrior training, Naiche saw his father changed. First, maybe advised by Naiche’s mother, he reached peace or at least armistice with the White Eyes. In the last of 1868, he opened talks with soldiers at Fort Goodwin but did not follow. The 6th of February 1869, he met captain Perry and had discussions about peace. Goci promised to not attack the Americans during two months and after, perhaps he would have talks at Fort Goodwin. It was certainly more a tactic to not be annoyed by soldiers during the winter than a real wish of peace from Goci.
Secondly, aging, he still led war expedition but les than years before. He let his headmen did small raids. Forced by Mexicans, he put his headquarters in the Dragoon Mountains. There he commanded or supervised the actions of the Chokonen warriors certainly allied with the Nednis that ravaged the southeast of Arizona from April to August 1869. Taza seemed to act with more responsibility.

In march 1869, in the east of Chiricahua country, a Chihenne gota was stroke by soldiers and lost everything. Their leaders Jlin-tay-i-tith and Salvadora attempted a surrender near Cañada Alamosa in June 1869. After several meeting, a ranchéria stood up near the village and the first agent since Dr Steck established near the Chihennes. The village was on the sacred lands of the Chihennes and the Chiricahuas at Ojo Caliente (Hot Springs). Jlin-tay-i-tith and Salvadora had the blessing of Bi-duye and Kas-tziden to discus peace by their names with the new agent. They waited to see how those Chihennes would be treated. It was the first serious talks of peace between Americans and Chiricahuas Apaches since the war begun in February 1861. At Cañada Alamosa, the Chihennes could sell their bounty and this illegal market replaced the one of Janos. One of the traders who began business with the Chihennes on July 1869, was Thomas Jonathan Jeffords.
In Arizona, Goci knew certainly what occurred in Chihenne’s country by family in law he got in this band. But the peace was uncertain and low annuities given to the Chihennes did not persuade Goci to go at Ojo Caliente to speak of peace too. In survival way of life, he raided again. But he was surprised, after killed some soldiers and a man called Stone coming from fort Bowie, by the determination of the Americans soldiers. He and his warriors had two big fights, 8th and 18th of October against the blue soldiers. They penetrated deep in the Chokonen territory to look for and strike hard the Chokonens. Goci lost during those fights, some great warriors.

Needing a long rest Goci led his band in the White Mountain Apache country and camped along the Bonita Creek during the winter. They bought food from their Apache neighbors. While resting there, surely via Salvadora, Goci agreed Jlin-tay-i-tith to speak on his name about peace at Ojo Caliente. Jlin-tay-i-tith announced to agent Drew, in December 1869, that Goci could come and stayed in peace if a reservation was created there and the Apaches well treated and fed.
Naiche certainly understood that his father was not furious anymore and did not looking for revenge now. But he had to led his people and the only possibility to feed them correctly was by raiding on White Eyes or Mexicans settlements. Hearing or maybe participated on discussions in the family wickiup, he knew that his parents though this war would mean at last the end of the Chokonen band because there was too much warriors killed since 1861. The only way to survive would be at peace with the White Eyes, but where, when and at which cost?


3.3. The Dikohe year.

The year following the 1869-1870’s winter was certainly one, if not, the most important period of Naiche’s personal life. It was time for him to become a warrior. At the end of his warrior training, feeling and advised to be ready, he would join war or raiders parties as apprentice warrior, a dikohe. To become a warrior, Naiche would have participate to four expeditions. Those four could be dramatic for the rest of the life of the warrior if he had a bad conduct.
During the four expeditions Naiche cooked, prepared the sleep bed of the warriors. Eventually he was sent as sentry and took care of the warriors’ horses. During the expeditions he was considered as Child of Water and had to honor this sacred character. He had to eat cold, drink throw a straw and did sacred things. In return the warriors were very careful about the dikohes. The fact that Naiche was a son of Goci, he certainly was dikohe during expeditions led by Goci, Taza, Nahilzay or Goyakla.

Before 1861, it could last two or three years to participate at four expeditions. But war and raids were become the only way of life for all the people, so in less than one year, a young boy would have done his four expeditions. Naiche became certainly a warrior at the end of the summer of 1870.
Between march and July, the Chokonens surely allied with the Nednis did a lot of depredations in Arizona and Sonora. No one could really stop them, they could steal, burn and kill when et where they planned to do it. So Naiche had his choice to which expedition he could participate. But the band had to move much of the time to escape Americans and Mexican patrols. Planning the expeditions to feed the band, choosing the safety place to camp, always being on guard, sleeping little, running often, crying each lost people of the band and being anxious of the Chokonens future stressed and tired the sixty years old chief, Goci.

Also, it was maybe at this time that Goci had the first symptoms of a fatal illness. He began to have some difficulties to eat and tiswin seemed relieved him of the pain he got sometimes. So, he began to drink more than before tiswin. All those facts persuaded the chief to ask a peace treaty with Americans.
First, he tried near his old allies, the White Mountains Apaches, north of the Chokonen territory. While Nednis of Tandilbinojui and Chokonens under Kla-esh or Eskinya continued to ravaged the Southeast of Arizona. Goci sent one of his wives, certainly Yones, opened negotiations with the soldiers at Camp Mogollon (called later Fort Apache) in the beginning of August 1870.
Child, as he could remember, Naiche always heard Goci talking of war and revenge. And now just become a warrior, Naiche saw his beloved, respected father, marked physically and psychologically by ten years of constant war against two very powerful nations who had clearly in his mind seek peace for him and his people.

NEXT : WARRIOR AT PEACE.

[jasper4]

Jun 6, 2019 13:49:24 GMT -5 Helen Rodriguez said:

Jun 6, 2019 13:29:55 GMT -5 Helen Rodriguez said:

I was told I am a 3rd GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER TO NAICHE CAN YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME BACK ASAP I WOULD LOVE TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH

I advise you call the mescalero rez and make inquiry there.

[natethegreat]

Thank you for posting the history of Chief Naiche's life. Many times the Apache were stabbed in the back when they came for peace. And alot of low life white men (confederate soldiers in a lot of cases) did a lot of murders of innocent Apache. The Apache did good, they fought well. Outgunned, outmanned, starving, disease, living in the dirt, they still fought with honor. Respect.

[coeurrouge]

WARRIOR AT PEACE

Historical context during those times.

In Mexico, the end of the final government of Bénito Juarez was not great and the president died in 1872. Soon after instability came back taken the money resources and using army forces by generals trying to get power.
With the Natives, Mexico used assimilation as péones, isolation for the native who did not want to lose their culture and for the ones who revolted like several times the Yaquis, it was extermination. For the Apaches only one policy was applied: extermination by any means, but in less efficiency during this period.

In USA, the economic dynamism was supported by the reconstruction of the southern states and mainly by mechanics in agriculture and industry. But it was the incredible development of the railroad companies which hold the US economy. For the first time in the beginning of the 1870s European Countries imported wheat from USA and it destabilized European economy and provoked at the end European bank disasters. In May 1873, it was the turn of some US railroad companies and a crack occurred that impacted hardly US economy. Lot of white people went west to reach money by digging looking for new minerals’ locations.

With the Natives population, after the peace policy which brought some success likes with the plain Indians, the Grant administration decided a new policy, reservation or war. It was time to open new lands to develop again the economy. In Kansas and Colorado, there were no more free Indians after 1869 and the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers defeat. In 1875, the last free Comanches surrendered and some southern plains Indians after the revolt were hold prisoners some years in Fort Marion, in Florida. Except some part of Native Nations, most of the tribes lived in reservation. The agents had orders to change the way of life and mainly the thinking of the Natives. Those peoples could not leave their reservation without permission. The Whites wanted that the natives adopted the White way of life.


1. A long Road to Peace.

1.1. Real First talks of Father with Blue Soldiers in the last ten years.

Goci choose to talk peace with soldiers at Camp Mogollon (future Fort Apache) certainly because he was too suspicious from them at Fort Bowie who betrayed him one time before. Yones, useful to be emissary, informed the soldiers that Goci tired of war wanted to talk of peace.
If Goci opened negotiation in White Mountain Apache’s territory was mainly because most of the soldiers here were not involved in war with him and the gota of his friend Chiva contained some White Mountains by birth. The chief wanted sincerely peace but the headmen who joined him wanted surely just a long rest for their people during the winter coming.
For Naiche it was maybe frustrating because just become a warrior, the leader of the warriors, his father, stopped the fights and forbidden those with Americans. As a young Chokonen, Naiche certainly wanted to test his skills as a warrior like Atelnietze and Chie before him. However, as a loyal son, he obeyed.

What influence had Dos-teh-seh in the decision of Goci, it impossible to known. But his husband no more forever in a revenge way, she could explain him that their children became adults and if the war continued, they would know the killing of some of them without doubts. It was maybe time to try to stop the war and the suffering of the people. If it occurred, Naiche witnessed certainly the discussion between his parents.
Allowed by his superior, Major Green seemed to indicate to Goci that he could talk with the chief of peace. 30th of august 1870, Goci had his first real peace talks with blue soldiers in the last ten years. The two parties were very suspicious about each other, but each side was sincere. Certainly, each escorted by men well-armed with eyes always on guard of treachery, major Green and Goci met outside the fort in a neutral ground.

Goci admitted that since the war began, without details, he and his warriors killed much White Eyes as the US soldiers did with the Chiricahuas, but the fault was on soldiers’ side ten years before. He explained that his band was tired, wanted to live in a safe place, maybe near of Camp Mogollon along the Bonita Creek. The chief promised if peace was made, he could protect roads where his band would live.
Major Green apparently expressed his happiness to hear Goci talking of ceasing the war. But he also explained that he had no order to say any promise to Goci like feeding his people here, along the Bonita Creek. He promised just to report to his superiors about the sincerity of Goci and to ask orders to what to do. Goci answered certainly that he did known if he would stay in this place waiting of those orders. The meeting took end at this time certainly
.
When Goci came back at the ranchéria, a council with the headmen took place. Taza was certainly currently one of them. Naiche surely heard and understood his father was in a mixed mind. He was satisfied about the meeting because for the first time since the “cut the tent events”, a blue soldier was sincere with him and believed Goci when he talked of peace. On the same time, he felt disappointed because he had no answer about the soldiers If they accepted the peace proposition. He had to made decision, stayed here waiting the answer with the danger to be attack in a foreign territory or came back to the Chokonen country but without a long time, the necessity to raid again. If he had not made his decision, his headmen helped him. Maybe excepting Chiva, no other headman wanted to stay here, where the White Mountains treated them as intruders, fearing Major Green had to share their scarce rations with the Chokonens.
Without to known cleary the intentions of the Americans and the hiding hostility of the White Mountain against his band, Goci felt it was better to return home and had a council with the other headmen stayed in the Chiricahuas Mountains. They came back in their country certainly in mid-September. The Chokonens seemed to have made no raids between this date and December 1870. Goci certainly understood depredations after just expressed his wishes of peace, could be considered a treachery from him by the White Eyes. Goci could not let the Americans thinking that he was a liar. I think he forbidden his warriors to done raids with the strong authority he had. But he had to find another option with the winter coming.

In the same time, mainly by Salvadora words or messengers, they heard that the new agent in Cañada Alamosa succeed on giving food rations regularly to the Chihennes and an important council with Americans officials would take place. All the leaders of the Chiricahuas were invited, especially Goci. As a band chief it was an opportunity Goci could not ignore. The Chief consulted his headmen and he was apparently decided that Goci with the warriors of his gota would go with some of their family. The rest of the families stayed under the protection of Chiva’s gota. The others gotas of the band would wait news from Goci to come or not.

1.2. A new friend, Thomas Jonathan Jeffords aka Daya-ti-tcidn (Red Beard)

Goci and his followers arrived at Cañada Alamosa around mid-october. Naiche certainly accompanied his parents. Now the extended family in law of Goci was leading by Salvadora, the oldest survivor son of Kan-da-zis-tlishishen and currently they followed the chief Bi-duye who was an old friend of Goci. It was surely great moments of happiness in this hard time for everybody. Naiche met the siblings and half siblings of his mother and if she still alive, his grandmother Tu-es-eh. They were four brothers, Salvadora, Thastine, Cassori and Mangus and two sisters, Nah-ke-desah and Ilthooda. Waiting the council with the White Eyes officials, the brothers in law and Bi-duye introduced Goci and his family to a trader who they were confident off. They called him Daya-ti-tcidn which means Red Throat because of his red beard.
The Chihennes appreciated this man. He respected the apaches and did not fear them. Fair in business he did not care how the Chihennes got their merchandises. He certainly sold some alcohol but not too much to avoid the loss of his license given by US government. He spoke Spanish as well as Goci and some N’de language. He was humble and did not care about his reputation. He was a man with courage, strong capacity to manage difficulties of the life and a strong personality. In all he was deeply honest in his relationship with the Apaches.

Quickly, Goci liked him and had confident on him. He would the only white man who Goci really trusted as maybe Naiche. Jeffords would be an important advisor of Naiche during the 1870’s. This man became the trusted friend of the Chokonens. The presence of this good man was certainly viewed as a good sign for Goci in his goal to get a fair peace, at Cañada Alamosa, with the Americans. The Chihennes’ agent, lieutenant Hennisee was liked too by the Chokonen’s chief. He was capable, had obtained regular annuities and could use his authority against troublemakers, apaches or whites.
Goci hoped that the Americans would finally answer if they wanted really peace with him and at what conditions. He needed responses to convince the rest of his band, Eskinye and Cathla’s gotas and mostly the more independent Kla-esch. But the White Eyes had to prove their peace sincerity, their capacity to give enough and regular supplies in food but also in clothes and tools to help Goci to convince. With Goyakla, Goci certainly thought it was impossible to success. Cañada Alamosa was too distant from Mexico for Tandinbilnojui and him.

The meeting took place 20th of October 1870. For the US were present special agent Arny, in charge to pacificate the Natives living in reservations, and the agent Hennisee. Goci expressed that after listening the soldiers at Fort Apache, he came here to listen the agents and after he would inform the other Chokonens. Each side were clear. Goci expressed again his wishes to live in peace in an honest treatment. He did not seem ready to live in a reservation yet. But Arny was clear, the US government would let in peace, feed and give other things only to the Apaches living in a reservation. For the Apaches living outside, the soldiers would always purchase and attack them.
But a misunderstand occurred maybe provoked by a mistake of the interpreters. When Arny asked the chiefs to say where in the reservation they wanted to receive their rations, all the chiefs understood they could choose the location of their band’s reservation. After the talks, Goci’s gota received rations. Needing rest and a time of thinking. Goci had certainly much talks with headmen of his gota, his wife, Taza, Bi-duye,Jlin-tay-i-tith and Jeffords. I think this was at this time, convinced maybe at the end by Jeffords, that Goci understood it was time to accept the only way to survive for the Chokonens was to live in a reservation.

Naiche if he assisted on discussions, was certainly less aware than in august of his father’s thoughts. Renewed with his mother family, he met new people belonging to the same tribe than him. The arrival of the Chokoknens was certainly followed by invitation of feasts on each camp. Just a warrior, he had new rights. Like Atelnietze and Chie, he could assist on council, could marry, drink tiswin, talk and dance with young women and have sexual relation with widow women.
Naiche lived there between mid-October to mid-December 1870. He certainly appreciated the safety rest he got during this period which was the first since much years. He surely enjoyed the feasts, especially their dances moments and maybe began to developpe one part of his character, if his reputation is right: his skills as a women seducer, in the Apache way.
During their living, an event reinforced the ties between the two haldzils families of Goci and Salvadora. Chie married a wife from Kan-da-zis-tlishishen’s family. It is said that she was a daughter of the great dead chief or at least a niece. In the case she was a daughter, I think she was the youngest one and the last child of the chief, Ilthooda. If I am right, it means that Hugh Chee was the son of Ilthooda and had the same grandfathers than Naiche.

His father, after a time of listening advices, of watching if the apaches were well treated and of doing his opinion about the agent, decided to go back in the Chokonen country to try convincing others of his band to come at Cañada Alamosa. He left his rancheria 16th of November with Salvadora and two of his warriors.
Goci certainly reported his journey at Cañada Alamosa to the other chiefs. He explained that from a long time, women and children slept well, the agent could be trust, annuities were regular and in satisfaction quantities, bounty could be selling like in Janos and when they were sure they could choose the location of their reservation. The principal point of his reporting, the Chokonens would have to live in a reservation to avoid disappearance. First, he certainly proposed to the other chief to come and see at Cañada Alamosa what he reported.
Naiche’s father brought the rest of his gota, convinced Chiva and Gordo to follow him to the Chihenne’s country. The other chiefs were not ready to accept to live in a reservation, near soldiers and not be free to go where they pleased. So, I think, under Kla-esch, Eskinye and Cathla, the others Chokonens stayed in their country during the winter.

But when he came back at the beginning of December, what Goci discovered had at least disturbed him, less than a month and half after he expressed his suspiciousness and asked the Americans to be honest. He reported to his band a truthful military agent, he was replaced by a civilian agent; he promised regular annuities, the Americans seemed to have not thought of the increase of population and now there were not enough rations, clothes and blankets; he announced they could choose their reservation location, the new agent explained that the reservation would soon be transferred east of the Rio Grande with the Mescaleros Apaches.
The chief did not understand the Americans. He expressed it would be hard to convince all his band to live at Cañada Alamosa, how the White Eyes expected to attract all the Chokonens when even most of the Chihennes who had closer relationship with the Mescaleros, did not want to go living with them. Disappointed and wanting to keep the unity of his band, Goci brought back his people in the Chiricahuas Mountains for the winter waiting good news from the Chihennes’ country. Salvadora’s extended family accompanied them to escape a possible transfer and to let Chie and his wife living with his other father during the winter.

Next : 1.3. An eight-month summary of the last ten years.

[coeurrouge]

1.3. An eight-month summary of the last ten years.

Naiche felt surely his father was more disconcerted than disappointed by Americans. Just talking a little of peace, White Eyes treated Goci as a reservation Indian. But as a free Chokonen, he chose his time of peace. First the chief and his people returned to their country to have a long rest during the winter. It is obvious the chief ordered to not make raids in Arizona. The warriors made some raids only to feed the people. But as said Arny, Apaches outside reservations would be considered hostiles and attacked by soldiers, even in winter.

The gota of Naiche seemed after had lived in the Chiricahua Mountains, in January 1871, moved to the southern foot-hills of the Mogollon in February. Goci planned raids in New Mexico expecting, maybe, no long pursuit from the soldiers of this territory. But he was wrong. Following raiders, a group of civilians, strongly armed by the militaries attacked the ranchéria of Goci 24th of February, 1871.
The sentry sacrificing himself, did the alarm by shooting a White Eye, but it was too late. A powerful fire stroke everybody. It was certainly the first real battle in which Naiche would have participated. The casualties were numerous among the Apaches. Fourteen were killed and others were injured. Among the dead was Salvaroda, the brother of Dos-teh-seh and, I think, Taza in this fight or one another this year, lost a wife and children if he had some at this time. Salvadora and three of his people were killed, surely living just near of Goci’s family. So, it could happen, that during the fight, Naiche lost more than an uncle from his family.

Mourning was again on the family. Naiche saw his “brother” Chie, leaving them and followed his new family. His family in law decided to come back at Cañada Alamosa looking for a safe place. Some injured Chokonens went too. But not the gota of Goci. Retaliations would in schedule and more than Goci wanted. As the head chief, if he wanted to be followed and keep the unity of his band, the chief would have to lead the revenge expeditions. Naiche would be part of it’s as a young warrior.
The gota was not the only to be attack this winter. 12th of February, twenty-eight miles south east of Fort Bowie, the ranchéria of Esquine and Goyakla was destroyed. They lost everything and sixteen of them were killed, one little boy captured. They found refuge in Cañada Alamosa where Bi-duye welcome them. Returning from a raid in Chihuahua, Kla-esch and his warriors were pursued by soldiers from Fort Bowie and had two fights near Dzisl-lnoi-bi-yi-tu, 21th and 28th of March, in which between six and ten people died. In 28th there camp was destroyed too.
On the first weeks of April Sonoran soldiers penetrated in Arizona. They surprised a little ranchéria, killed all the eight adults and captured two children. They belonged certainly of the Tse-ga-ta-hen-de’s gota led by Cathla. In all, the casualties were around fifty dead in four months, half of them were apparently warriors. Chokonens and Bedonkohes followers of Goci waited him to organize war expeditions to revenge those dead.

Goci put his headquarters in the Dragoon Mountains. He planned the revenge. The injured warriors seemed to be with the Chihennes. In April, Goci could depend on all the Chokonens available to hold a weapon, except from Cathla’s gota. I think Goyakla, Esquine returning from New Mexico joined him with their healthy warriors, as well as Nay-zar-zee (Gordo) and his warriors among them Pedes-kinjle. Tandinbilnojui was also there with his Nednhis. Among the warriors was his youngest son, Naiche, ready to avenge his uncle.
The first two weeks of April, one hundred warriors raided in the San Pedro valley doing victims, but soon soldiers from fort Bowie riposted. 16th of April, 1871, Naiche certainly participated on a hard but short fight against soldiers. He saw his father letting the soldiers guessing by a trail that his warriors fled in the mountains, while he put them on the back of the soldiers and ambushed them. Nobody was hurt but Goci by example learnt to his son how to make a diversion.
After this fight the warriors divided. Just earing about the Sonorans’ attack against Cathla’s gota members, Goci led his Chokonens in Sonora while Tandinbilnojui and Goyakla went west in the Whestone Mounts. In beginning of May, with his warriors and maybe his two sons, Goci ravaged North of Sonora. During this expedition, Goci was hit. The warriors came back at the end of May. Cathla and Kla-esch returned in the Huachuca Mountains and the Chiricahuas Mountains, Goci and Eskinye in the Dragoon Mountains. Naiche as a warrior, should gain in confidence, showed to others courage and some skills with guns. His father knew since then, his youngest son was truly a warrior.

In the ranchéria, one hundred of the people missed, mostly women and children. They had followed Jlin-tay-i-tith and Mexicans sent by agent Piper trying to convince the Chokonens to live in a secure place with the Chihennes. In mid-June of 1871, all the family was happy to welcome Thomas “Daya-ti-tcidn” Jeffords certainly guided by Chie. Jeffords was also sent to persuade Goci to surrender at the Chihenne’s reservation still near Ojo Caliente. From Jeffords and Chie, Naiche and his family learnt the transfer with the Mescaleros Apaches was abandoned, the annuities were regular and good enough. The reservation was a peace and secure place for the Chiricahuas, the two swore it.
They also informed the chief a new officer took the command of the Arizona’s soldiers. He had a reputation to be bold and one of the greatest Indian fighters in the US Army. Jeffords said he was ready to led a column of soldiers as numerous as Colonel Bonneville had in 1857. But this new officer enlisted a large number of Apaches scouts, mostly White Mountains, more in charge to fight other Apaches, still living outside reservations, than to guide his soldiers. To not be slow in his movement, he used mules rather than wagons to transport supplies. Jeffords explained certainly it would be the greatest threat that Goci would face in his life. His name was Crook who Naiche would know very well twelve years later.

But Naiche and the Chokonens eared that near Camp Grant, more than one hundred Western Apaches were butchered, mostly women and children, by Tucson citizens, mainly Mexicans associated with Papagos. Goci feared attacks on his people during the travel to the Chihenne’s reservation. Naiche saw his father suffering from his wound or his illness, enable doing this travel. The chief and his followers refused to go with his white friend. They moved south to the Santa Rita Mounts for a rest during the summer, doing raids in Mexico.
Another fight occurred for Naiche in July 1871. Waiting to be healthy or convinced by his people, maybe mainly by his principal wife, Goci decided to move at Ojo Caliente and surrender. The moral of the Chokonens was very low. They could live in their country but they had always to move, being poor, in a deep stress of surprised attacks, they felt prisoners in their born country. Distressed, ill and exhausted, Goci certainly looked for a safe place to finish his life. Naiche surely pitied his father about his high responsibility by caring the band. They eluded easily Crook’s column in this summer.
But to go in New Mexico, they needed horses. His warriors maybe led by Taza or Nahilzay stole fifty horses from a Papago’s village in Mexico, in mid-august. This Indians stroke back, killed some warriors and ravaged Goci’s camp. Apparently, the chief was not in command during the fight suffering bad. The people scattered again. They soon reunited and Goci said it was time to move. Some had already gone to Ojo Caliente, maybe Esquine and forty of his followers returning among their gota stayed with the Chihennes.
Goci sent his brother Juan, who seemed to quit the Nednhis to the reservation, where he arrived with some Chokonens 21st of August in a scouting mission, surely. Perhaps She-ga was there since the attack of the 12th of February. Healed, Naiche’s father ordered two raids, one to get horses and another to get castle for the travel. 4th and 5th of September the parties stole sixty-two horses and mule belonging to Fort Crittenden and eighty heads of castle from Sonora before moving to Ojo Caliente. If he planned those raids, like he would do the next year, Goci did not participated. I think, the first raid was leading by Taza and Nahilzay. Naiche was maybe with the twenty-five warriors that day. The other raid was made under the command of Eskinye.

Arizona was left behind with in the mind, at least for Goci, with possibility no return. If Naiche saw Goci very tired and had less influence on other Apache Nations, the son could guess his father was still the greatest chief of the Chiricahuas. When Goci needed warriors in the beginning of the 1870’s, only some Pinals responded yet. Arivaipas reaching peace, had lost much people and were afraid to encounter white people. The old allies, the White Mountains had a lot of warriors under the command of Crook. They were not allying anymore for the Chiricahuas.
Among the Chiricahuas, who had suffered the most, on the Apache Nations, during those last ten years, Goci was the only chief able to attract warriors from all the bands in war expeditions. When he invited, Tandinbilnojui and his Nednhis responded as one. This close ally could bring fifty warriors and two hundred and fifty people. The other headmen were Natiza, Nolgee and Nat-cul-baye (José Maria Elias). They were the last Nednis. Their life was between their refuges in Sierra Madre, around Janos and in Arizona, always raiding to survive.

On the Chihennes, the influence of Goci was different. Less warriors followed him at this time because it was very dangerous to live with the Chokonens due to the soldiers mainly from Fort Bowie. But when he was in the reservation at Ojo Caliente, the words of the Chihennes’ chief had more power with Goci in the ears of their agents. In the last two years on reservation, the gotas still existed but division in each began to appear. Jlin-tay-i-tith was deeply in favor of peace, very friendly with agents and ready to transform the way of life of his gota. His gota numbered thirty warriors and one hundred thirty-five people. Tahyan, the son in law of the chief, was certainly his second.
Not completely agreed with his chief, Ponce Junior splatted to form a new gota on the Cuchillo Negro river some twenty miles of the agency. They were twelve warriors, like his younger brother Chinche, and fifty-five people. The father of this leader, Ponce Senior, was before his death, a friend of Goci. His headman was the inveterate raider, Tah-ho-klisn (Sanchez).

Bi-duye, designated chief of the reservation by the agent, was in a hide competition with Jlin-tay-i-tith for that. This recognition brought little more annuities and then more followers. If he was in good terms with the agent, he waited to be assured the reservation would be forever at Ojo Caliente before adopted the way of life explained by the agents. His gota contained thirty-five warriors and one hundred and fifty-five people. The headmen were Cassori, Thastine and Pajarita, his son in law and a son of Baishan. This gota was, too, divided. Miguel Tuerto and Ratòn led a small gota between of fifteen warriors with sixty-five people and living in South of New Mexico. They refused to live in a reservation only dependent of the White Eyes. I think a young woman named Guyan lived in this gota as a family of mighty warriors of four brothers. Bacuthlay and Nezulkide were warriors, like soon Kaathenay would be.

The last Chihenne’s gota was leading by the seventy years old chief Kas-tziden. Always on guard of treacherious signs made by Americans, he knew that his gota had to live at Ojo Caliente to survive. He reluctantly chose peace to get a chance of that. The fact he was suspicious about White Eyes, allowed him to maintain unity on his gota. His headmen were Rafael, Horache his son in law and Nonithian. The last one was the most distrustful with the Americans. thirty warriors and one hundred and thirty-five people lived in this gota.

Goci was in a total command of the Chokonen’s gotas in their country, little less when he left to come in reservation. His gota was composed of thirty-five warriors and one hundred and seventy-five people. He was successfully supported by Nahilzay, Taza and Tygee who acted as his bodyguards’ leader. His people were very loyal to him and a new known child of the Pisago Cabezòn’s “dynasty” born this year. He was Satsitnitsu, the oldest son of Atelnietze.
Kla-esch, forty years old at this time, put some distance with the old chief, but was always there when it needed to respond. His seconds were Ulzanna, a one- or two-years older brother, and Nah-dozhine, thirty years old. They led a gota of thirty-five warriors and one hundred and seventy-five people. When Goci quitted Arizona, this gota chose to stay in their homeland. They were the only Chokonens living in Arizona between September 1871 and march 1872.
Cathla was leading the smaller one, in disappearance way. Thirty-five years old, he seemed to be a friend of Taza and relative to Ulzanna by marriage. On the attack of Sonoran soldiers in April, he lost one third of his warriors. In August 1871, the gota had twelve warriors and sixty people. His gota was resting in Huachuca Mountains after the expedition against Sonora in May.
Eskinye, fifty years old, the powerful war shaman of the Chokonen’s band was leading the most bellicose group of fifteen Chokonen warriors. His headmen were his younger brother Pionsonay and Nazaree. At all the gota numbered seventy-five people. They joined Goci to Ojo Caliente, mainly because some of their people followed Jlin-tay-i-tith in May.

The old allied of Goci, Chiva still led the Bedonkohe’s gota who had several White Mountain born warriors as his subordinates Benito and his cousin She-neah. But he seemed that the sixty years old leader lost leadership in profit of Benito. Since the death of Kan-da-zis-tlishishen, Goci guided this gota. They were twenty-five warriors and one hundred and twenty people. They lived most of the time north of the Chokonen’s country near their homeland, the Mogollons Mountains.
The other Bedonkohe’s gota had a special leadership. Most of the time Esquine, sixty years old, seemed to lead it but when the War shaman, born in this gota, was there he took in charge of all. This War shaman was Goyakla who lived in this gota or with his close friend Tandinbilnojui with fifteen loyal supporters and their families. Altogether, thirty-five warriors and one hundred and seventy-five people lived in this gota. They seemed to not know where to live. Francisco and Zele, forty years old, were headmen. Since the losing of their ranchéria in February 1871, most of the women and children lived at Ojo Caliente. Only the warriors were outside, I think. It was why Esquine preceded Goci for a month.
The last gota whose was under the command of Goci, had as chief Nay-zar-zee, fifty years old and was composed of a mixed Bedonkohe-Chokonen people. They were twelve warriors and sixty people. I think Goci sent Nay-zar-zee to invited Chiva to go to Ojo Caliente in a secure place to escape Crook.

In all, Goci controlled totally eight hundred people and commanded one hundred and fifteen warriors. But at the beginning of 1870’s, it was nearly impossible to united a such force in one place without being seen and risking terrible disasters for the women and children. Goci knew his people was dying quickly. It was why, near Ojo Caliente, he encountered Jeffords 24th of September 1871, to use him as a messenger to the agent of the reservation. He was ready to surrender and to live for his last days in this reservation. War was over, he thought.

NEXT : 1.4 Leave us alone, resting.

[coeurrouge]

1.4. Leave us alone, resting.

28th of September, 1871, Goci introduced by Jeffords met agent Piper. He said that he surrendered and wanted to live here in peace. Piper fed the Chokonens and after they camped twenty miles south of the agency on the Cuchillo Negro River. Goci, his family and his gota only wanted to live in peace alone and to be forgotten by everybody.
Soon others gota came at Ojo Caliente. Cathla and his camp joined Goci. Nay-zar-zee and Chiva brought their gota in the reservation too. At the end of October all the gotas in total control of Goci were at Ojo Caliente except the one of Kla-esch who allied with the Nednhis made raids in Arizona and maintained tension between Chokonens and US officials.
The ranchéria of Naiche lived near the little one of Ponce Junior. Like the year before, for Naiche it was a time of meetings, social dances, sharing gifts and doing things young warriors could do when they quietly were on camp. But White Eyes did not leave his father alone. Civilian and military’s officials wanted to meet him as some journalists. It seemed to bore him however he conducted himself as a band chief even he was ill, upset or in a mood mind. Another lesson that certainly learnt Naiche during this long period of rest: a chief always conducted himself as a chief.

Several times in October, Naiche saw his father had talks with some Americans. They asked his father to go speaking, far away in the East, to a man they called grandfather of their Nation. Goci always refused, suspicious about the real goal of the Americans. Naiche surely heard his father fearing a betrayal like soldiers done to him in 1861 and 1865. The Chokonens also understood that a special agent named Colyer, two months earlier, created a reservation for the Chiricahuas, northwest from Cañada Alamosa, in a place named Tularosa. The agent wanted to transfer the agency as soon as possible. But all the Chihennes were opposed to this. They thought this new location was a bad place for us for multiples reasons. The Chokonens were agreed and supported the Chihennes.
Naiche witnessed surely several councils between his father and his headmen. It was obvious Goci was far to have convince Eskinye that peace and living in a reservation would be the only way to survive. Eskinye and his followers certainly came at Ojo Caliente just to have a long rest before the spring and summer raids. If Goci could convince Kla-esch to live in this reservation, Eskinye would stay. But with a reservation at Tularosa, it would be impossible.
Cathla seemed ready to live in a reservation, but not at Tularosa, it would be a too high sacrifice. The Bedonkohes seemed to be little less reluctant. Nay-zar-zee was opposed to the transfer but he certainly expressed he would follow the decision of the Chihennes’ chiefs. Esquine would not go and would try to stay here but if Goyakla came back, the gota would be without doubts in warfare again. Chiva hesitated because Tularosa was in Mogollons Mountains, near their old territory but in a bad place. He certainly expressed he would accept Goci’s decision about going or not at Tularosa.

After those councils, it was clear to Goci if he ordered to go at Tularosa to maintain peace, it would end the unity of his band. Even his gota, sooner or later, would divide and finally war would continue for the majority of the Chokonens. So, if Goci was not firm at the beginning on his opposition to go at Tularosa, in November it was the case. Except forced by militaries, he would not lead his people to Tularosa. And he would not allow US soldiers forced him to go to one place or another. Until Americans made their decision, the gota stayed along the Cuchillo Negro River.
During this period Goci’s gota or at least his family acquainted more with Ponce Junior’s little gota. And Goci made an alliance with this headman. Chie’s sister, around twenty years old, married Ponce Junior, thirty years old and became his second or third wife. Naiche's other “sister” left the gota going to share the Chihennes’ destiny.
At the beginning of December, the agent Piper announced that as soon as the soldiers would be ready, the agency would be transfer to Tularosa. The reactions of the Chiricahuas were protestations from Bi-duye and Jlin-tay-i-tith; escape to the Mescaleros reservation from Kas-tziden’s gota; stay away of the agency, still in the reservation but ready to flee when the transfer would be effective from the Chokonens and the Bedonkohes.
Annoying by Americans asking regularly to visit Washington and meet the President of United States and insisting to accept living in Tularosa, Goci lost certainly his last illusions definitively, if he had some, about the Americans officials listening and respecting the main wishes of the Chiricahuas; Since this time, he moved his band in the San Matteo Mounts north of the agency, where the Chief went only to assist on official councils, waiting the order to move at Tularosa. They were treated as defeated warriors however they still had all their weapons and were free to move.

Colonel Granger, commander in chief of New Mexico, indicated that the transfer would be on 1st of May, 1872. Knowing that, Goci surely ordered his band to be ready to go back in Arizona after the winter and forbidden to quit the reservation before this date. Based on the events of 1871, I think the plan of Goci was to join Kla-esch’s gota and after altogether go to Sonora to try finding a secure place in the Sierra Madre, maybe with the Nednhis and so to escape to the US soldiers’ multiple patrols. This schedule would be abandoned if the Americans canceled the decision of Tularosa and opened an official reservation at Cañada Alamosa.
For Naiche, 1872, was like the year before. Certainly, much unconcerned of his father decision, he took an advantage of this period of safe life having fun with friends, like Tah-ni-toe or Pedes-kinjle and visiting his “brother” Chie. But when Goci would order to quit, Naiche would obey as ever his father, ready to fight again like a Chokonen warrior he was since 1870.

Time was coming. 20th of March, 1872, Granger, Pope and Piper organized a new council with all the chiefs and headmen in the reservation. The Americans wanted to get the agreement of the chiefs to move their people at Tularosa. They only obtained protestations and no expression to quit Ojo Caliente. But Americans concluded the Chiricahuas would finally move on May. Goci feeling the Wite Eyes did not listen to them ended his speaks by asking the right to leave the reservation. He said he wanted to convince his fellows stayed in Arizona to surrender at the reservation. He got the blessing of Granger and Pope. He had what he wanted. In his mind, his demand was a diversion to get time and distance between his band and US soldiers, when they would quit the reservation.
It happened 30th of March or 1st of April, 1872. They went to Arizona joining Kla-esch’s gota in the Chiricahuas Mountains. Naiche saw how his people could leave a reservation without alert Americans for days. Apparently, the band had to change camp often to elude us patrols. Goci knew his band had to live in peace somewhere and their homeland was not yet an option for that. Maybe sharing his thoughts with his headmen, the band decided to move in Sonora to find the Nednhis and lived with them in the Sierra Madre to harvest mescal safely. I think, Chiva did not cross the border, so Goci asked him to integrate Tularosa reservation to report the Chokonens how would be the life there. Chiva and half of his people separated the Chokonens and arrived in Tularosa at the end of May, the other half staying under the leadership of Benito.
During this time, the transfer of the agency from Ojo Caliente to Tularosa was effective the first days of May 1872. Bi-duye, Jlin-tay-i-tith and Nay-zar-zee led three hundred and fifty Chihennes and Bedonkohes to Tularosa, among them Chie and Pedes-kinjle. Three hundred others followed Ponce Junior and Esquine crossing the Rio Grande River to join Kas-tziden’s gota in the Mescaleros reservation. The first removal of Chiricahuas from a reservation they chose to live in peace to another chosen by Americans was nearly a total failure.

In Mexico, Sonoran soldiers were very actives, so the Nednhis moved near Janos to open negotiations. The Chokonens joined them in mid-May. After sending Juliàn (Ulzana?), Pionsonay, Kla-esch and Cathla, Goci showed himself in Janos. Business was made like in old times between citizens of Janos and the Chiricahuas. The Chokonens stayed near Janos, certainly harvesting mescal, raiding a little in USA and waiting if Tandinbilnojui succeeded of a real truce with Chihuahuan autorithies. But with no power, the Mayor of Janos invited the chiefs to reach the truce in Galeana. It was not an option for the Chiricahuas, because in 1846, more than one hundred of them were butchered like Pisago Cabezòn.
The Chokonens crossed again the border after Sonoran soldiers attacked and destroyed the Nednhis’ ranchéria in Carcai Mounts. Goyakla seemed to follow Goci at this time. They came back in Arizona at the beginning of July, 1872. Goci led his band in the Dragoon Mountains and planned the raids to feed and clothe the people. During the summer his warriors were scattered for raiding in Arizona, New Mexico and surely in Sonora.

During the summer Naiche certainly was part of the warriors of Taza and Nahilzay during the raids done in the Sonoita and Santa Cruz valley. Goci, getting older, did not participate on any raids. Bounds and confidence between the brothers grew more at this time. But Naiche saw, for the first time, his father seeming to not know what to do. He did not want to live in the Tularosa reservation, he was too suspicious to live in peace in Mexico and US patrols made unsafely the life of his band in their territory.
During the summer some ranchérias were destroyed and some warriors were killed but the civilians were hit bad. For the first time since 1861, white settlers in Sonoita valley thought to leave their farm or ranch to escape death from apache warriors. The soldiers were unable to stop the bloody raids made by the Chokonens. Naiche’s people, despite those raids, were poor with a lack of food. Most of them camped with Goci in the Dragoons mountains. I think, it was Benito’s gota the White Mountains Apaches met, in last August, moving to the Tularosa reservation returning with Chiva.

While Goci was looking for a long-term solution of peace, a new peace commissioner arrived in Arizona in February 1872. His mission was to ensure all the Apaches would be in peace in their reservation. And his main goal peace was with Goci. An army officer, he had a higher rank of Crook and Granger and had total power to succeed in his mission. But finding and meeting Naiche’s father was very tough. He succeeded with the White Mountains Apaches and at Tularosa had an interesting council with the leaders there where Kas-tziden and his Chihennes finally came. The council took place 12th of September 1872. The commissioner came at Tularosa to find Jeffords who was said to be the only American to can talk with Goci. Jeffords accepted to present Goci the commissioner after he obtained the agent’s post of the future reservation. Bi-duye advised to take Chie as guide and Jeffords wanted also Ponce Junior.
The next day they travelled to Ojo Caliente because the commissioner wanted to see if this area was good enough as the Chihennes said for their reservation. The other objective was to find Ponce Junior’s ranchéria and engaged him as guide. This headman did not integrate the reservation and after returning from the Mescaleros reservation, camped in his homeland along the Cuchillo Negro River.
And 19th of September 1872, Jeffords and the Commissioner’s delegation guided by two Chiricahuas, the “son” and the “son in law” of Goci moved to Arizona looking for Naiche’s father. The peace commissioner was General Oliver Otis Howard.

NEXT : 1.5. “Tatte Grande” Howard and “Bueno Amigo” Sladen.

[Nahi]

Sept 15, 2019 11:02:09 GMT -5 coeurrouge said:

1.4. Leave us alone, resting.[/

While Goci was looking for a long-term solution of peace, a new peace commissioner arrived in Arizona in February 1872. His mission was to ensure all the Apaches would be in peace in their reservation. And his main goal peace was with Goci. An army officer, he had a higher rank of Crook and Granger and had total power to succeed in his mission. But finding and meeting Naiche’s father was very tough. He succeeded with the White Mountains Apaches and at Tularosa had an interesting council with the leaders there where Kas-tziden and his Chihennes finally came. The council took place 12th of September 1872. The commissioner came at Tularosa to find Jeffords who was said to be the only American to can talk with Goci. Jeffords accepted to present Goci the commissioner after he obtained the agent’s post of the future reservation. Bi-duye advised to take Chie as guide and Jeffords wanted also Ponce Junior.
The next day they travelled to Ojo Caliente because the commissioner wanted to see if this area was good enough as the Chihennes said for their reservation. The other objective was to find ponce Junior’s ranchéria and engaged him as guide. This headman did not integrate the reservation and after returning from the Mescaleros reservation, camped in his homeland along the Cuchillo Negro River.
And 19th of September 1872, Jeffords and the Commissioner’s delegation guided by two Chiricahuas, the “son” and the “son in law” of Goci moved to Arizona looking for Naiche’s father. The peace commissioner was General Oliver Otis Howard.

NEXT : 1.5. “Tatte Grande” Howard and “Bueno Amigo” Sladen.

Howard was sent to find Cochise by president Ulysses Simpson Grant. I think they wanted to find Ponce cause he spoke a perfect Spanish and Cochise trusted his word as much as he trusted his father's (J.M.Ponce) word. It seems that they also wanted him as a guide. The expedition was formed by Captain Joseph A. Sladen, Jake Mae who was English and Spanish speaker, a couple of assistants and Gen. Howard; But I don't know if Ponce Jr was part or not cause Taglito (Jeffords) adviced Howard to go meet the Chief just with Cpt. Joseph Alton Sladen in order to make that meeting more comfortable or trustable.The meeting was the 1st of October,they talked about the necessary conditions for a long lasting peace. I think in the end the agreement with all the subchiefs came in October 11. The reservation was placed in Cochise' s homeland and Cochise asked Tom Jeffords to be the gubernamental agent for that reservation.

[coeurrouge]

I will developp this in the next item; But Jeffords was named agent of the future reservation of the Chiricahuas, by howard. the two thought it would be in cañada Alamosa. the fact that Jeffords was already named favored to convince Cochise.

In Salden Journal, they looked for Ponce beacause he became the previous year a close member by alliance of Cochise's family and knew well Chihennes'territory. He certainly spoke well spanish but it was Geronimo/El Cautivo who was used as interpreter by Cochise.